12.23.2004

One thing I've learned from composing blogs: you can't use the back and forward navigation buttons to undo and redo like in MS Word. I just lost a full page of blog text that I was just about to publish. Some of it was drivel, but other stuff was good. Oh, well.

The good stuff was that I found "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley at the library today. I've never read the book but its one of those things floating out there in society that you associate with even though you don't substantially know what it is. Not like I'm trying to fool anyone into thinking that I know about the book, its just a loaded word that sounds good for my blog title.

I wanted to write about the Christmas Spirit because I'm not feeling too much of it at the moment. Usually the gift buying phase gets me warmed up but this year I shopped on line for one person because we're doing something different this year. But, ultimately its about the Christ coming to lift up mankind, not about giving presents.

So that's the short of it. Writing this journal is fun. Why don't I do it more often?

12.01.2004

I was thinking about some stories that I've heard recently about service.In my swim coaches' newsletter, the lead story was about the brother of acoach who'd been paralyzed in a car accident. He was a lawyer and swimmer,so he was very active and spoke for a living. Now he couldn't move belowhis nose and he couldn't talk. He became very depressed for a few years.What pulled him out of the depression was a new perspective on hispurpose. He realized that his purpose was to allow others to fulfillthemselves by serving him. That included the nurses who cared for him andthe family members who take time out of their day to help him with themost basic of human needs.

In the Gospel story of Jesus dining with Simon and accepting the serviceof Mary Magdalene, there is a similar message. Simon was trying to show islove by hospitality, yet he forgot some of the most simple and respectfulcustoms in his effort to provide a lavish meal. Mary was penitent andserved Jesus out of that motive. Jesus allowed himself to be served byothers because part of worship is fulfilling one's self through serviceand contrition.

The same can be said for hosting parties and being a guest during theholidays. Americans don't really draw the line between serving others andallowing others to serve them. Guests must be polite by offering to helpthe host/ess. In Russia, guests don't lift a finger. When the guestsbecome hosts, their guests don't lift a finger either. Culture can go bothways on this issue. But in spiritual terms, there is value in serving ANDthere is holiness in allowing others to serve you. I'm going to rememberthis and relax when I'm in the position to be served. The gratitude shownto me will make me a better servant to others when the time comes.

11.17.2004

Ok I'm back for another short entry. The initial feedback from friends andfamily about my blog have been good. It still seems like a rather new ideato them though. That's ok, 5 days ago it was new to me too. I think mybiggest concern has been privacy and security. I mean, if this thing isgoing to be searchable on the web, then anyone with any motive can accessit. I'm a believer in the the honesty of mankind and find people to bemostly harmless who give an intimidating impression, but still you neverknow.

Identity theft is an increasing problem in the USA these days. Last year,someone stole a paycheck out of my mailbox and tried to get credit cardsin my name. Fortunately I was alerted to the problem before any harm ormoney could be charged, but for thousands of others, it costs like 7-800dollars to correct the problem.

And then there's the issue of privacy. What will people think of me? Idon't have a trendy angle on the news or technology. I just like thelatest things that make life easier or more interesting. But there's aplace on the web for all sorts. I'll keep my real name off this blog forthe time being, so you can just call me Fuzz or Jefe or Fuzzy Jefe if youwant.

I see that I can add design changes to my blog. That will be the nextthing I do, but right now I have to write a paper about native speakers insecond language acquisition! Hooray!

11.15.2004

At first I was really skeptical about bloggers and blogging. I thought it was only for those who spend a lot of time on the internet and are opinionated enough to have to write something. Then I heard about how bloggers contributed to the exposure of the false military documents that CBS used to question the President's military record. And how they helped the press get the story right or wrong. Hmm, I thought, maybe blogging isn't that bad.

Then during my graduate studies, I heard about how blogging is changing how we use language. I'm an ESL teacher, so this kind of stuff interests me. And I know my students are blogging, so in an effort to relate to my students in class better, here I am. It's very freeing to have an outlet to write. Don't expect any radical conspiracy theories, or rantings from this blog. Maybe some political theories, language teaching ideas, and day-in-the-life reports to the fam. I like how the interests that I list connect me to other bloggers, interactivity is what blogging is all about.

So its takes a little bit of bravery to start blogging, but once you do, it grows and becomes easier. That's what I'm finding out. I'm open to your tips and thoughts about what makes a good blog. See you on the Net.

Where I've been in the USA

About Me

I'm an American who's lived on five continents, in six countries, for over eight years, and have learned six languages. The amazing perspective on life that I have gained is balanced by the fact that no matter where I live, I'm always homesick for somewhere else!
Nowadays I blog primarily about my life around town and occasional weekend or holiday trips. Writing with a foreigner's perspective on one's hometown is an interesting challenge :-)